Vessel-raiser.



A. E LUZZL VESSEL KAISER. APPLIGATIQN FILED MAY21, 1912.

1,@58,l88. Patented Apr. 8, 19131 3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

A. E. LUZZI VESSEL KAISER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY21,..1912.

1,058,180 Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

3 SHBETSSHEET 2.

A. E. LUZZL VESSEL KAISER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 21, 1912.

1 O5$,l88o Patnted. Apr. 8, 1913. s SHBETSSHEET 3.

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Application filed May 21, 1912. Serial No. 698,731.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. LUZZI, a citizen of the United States,'and resident of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Vessel-Raisers, of which the following is a specification, reference being. had to the accompanying drawing,-form1ng a art thereof, in. which similar letters of re erence-indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to vessel raisers, and the principal object thereof is to provide eflicient means for releasing and raising sunken heavy-tonnage vessels from a bed or bottom and floatlng them in such manner that they may be reclaimed and re-- paired; a further object being to provide a structure of this character which is durable and simple in construction, comprising aplurality of detachable parts susceptible of being readily assembled and disassembled, andwhich when disassembled may be stored within a limited space.

. With the above named and other objects in view I employ a plurality of telescopically and detachably connected frame-sections hereinafter fully described, and specificaliy set forth in the annexed claims. I In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Fi re 1, is a side view of the lower part of this. structure in process of construction; Fig- 2, anend view of the fully assembled structure; Fig. 3, a side view thereof, and Fig. 4, is a plan view; Fig. 5, is a detail plan view, taken on the line.'5-5 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6, is a side view of a part of the structure; Fig. 7, a detail plan. view of art of thestructure taken on line 77, of. ig. 8; Pi 8, an end view of part of the structure; 'g. 9, a side. view of a form of tongs for handling and assembling the parts; and Fig. 10,. is a sectional view of a roller bearing for a lifting chain em- 1 ploy-ed in using miyfin'vention; and Fig.11, lustrating the connections, between the frame work constituting my in vention and the barges. a F Referring to-the accompanym drawings, 5 A designates vertical tubular co umns com- 1 posed of metal, pnef ferably steel, which are circular in cross section and respectively comprise a plurality of telescopically con-a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1918.

right tubular part 1, and horizontal exten sions 2; these extend oopositely from each side of the tubular part 1, for engagement with the long tudinal tubes C; but-each corner coupling has a transversely extended tubular part 3, for engagement with lateral tubular cross bars the completed structure.

The tubular parts above described respectively comprise flanged sjegmentai sect1ons 4, 5, 6 and 7, the 'fl'anges thereof being riveted together at their points of intersection. This construction of tube is preferred because of itsxstabi'lity'; but Inlay employ plain tubes, ribbed tubes, or other. sections adapted for telescopic connection.

, Secured to the "bottom end of the lower section a, of each coiumn A, is an annul'alil I extended base F. "This restson the bottom 1 for supporting the column, and may be on.

any adapt-able construction. ll preferably section's afand they are secured" thereto at points-midway between the tubular sections C. The bifurcated end parts 'ofeach cross bar E, respectivel comprise hinged segments 8, having anges 9; said segments clamp around the sections a, and are secured thereto by means of bolts and nuts 10 and 11, see Fig.1'7, of the drawings.

The tubular sections 0 and D, when the structure is assembled, are in telescopic and detachable engagement with the couplings B, and. they are fastened to said couplings by means of coupling-pins G, which pass through said couplings and sections, whereby when all the parts are assembled a strong and durable structure, comprisin a plurality of detachable parts, is provided,

In operation, the device being employed for raising a sunken vessel, as H, Fig. 1, of the drawings,-the lower base sections of a reuired number of columns A, are lowered roin suitable barges, as I, and ranged along D, whichform part of the sides of the vessel. These are lowered by means of cables J, which are operated by suitable winches K, on the barges; tongs j, being employed to engage openings 7:, in the upper ends of the column sections, whereby said sections may be dropped on a vertical line and readily released, when set; the setting of the parts of the structure being done by divers. Having set the first or base series of column sections, the next upper sections are lowered and telescopically attached thereto by means of their couplings B. The 0 eration being as follows: A column section, as 12 Fig. 1, of the drawings, has the upper vertical part of a coupling B, fixed to its lower end, and is lowered and telescopically connected to the base section, as 13, by means ofthe lower end part of the vertical tubular part 1, of said coupling B. Horizontal bars G and l), are then coupled to-the horizontal tubular parts of said coupling, and the next vertical section, as 14, 1s attached, and so on until the entire structure is completed, as shown by Figs. 2 and 3,0f

the drawings. As thenstructural operation proceeds the telescopicallyconnected hori zontal barsC and D, are securely fastened to the couplings by means of the coupling-pins G; and as the structure grows upwardly the transverse bars E, are set and then clamped and securely fixed by means of the bolts and nuts 10 and 11. To counteract the effect of strong under currents on the part-s being lowered blockand tackle gearing, as L, is fixed to either lower parts of the structure, the sunken vessel or both, and is connected to the said parts being lowered and to the operating winches, as K, located on the barges, wherebysaid gearing may be operated for the purpose of guiding the lowered parts into proper position. As an alternative guidin means I employ weights or anchors, as These are connected by the cable N, to a part being lowered, as 15, and the diver may manipulate said cable to guide said part into proper position.

Having fully assembled the structure, chains P, are passed beneath the bottom of the vessel H, and their respective ends engage the windlasses, as Q, on oppositely located barges. These chains bear on roller bearings R, secured to the barges. The winches and windlasses are connected with and operated by motors located in the holds of the barges in the customary well known manner, and said windlasses are operated for winding the chains P, and thereby lifting the vessel until it reaches the surface, after which it may be pumped out and repaired sufliciently for purposes of transportation to a dry dock. "When the vessel 18 lifted to a sufiicient height to interfere "with the lower series of cross bars E, said bars are removed and then, after -the vessel is further raised, replaced. This operation is repeated until the vessel is floated. By means of these removable cross bars, which are detached and reattached by the diver, I

maintain a structure of'maximum strength during the entire operation of lifting the vessel.

The bargesare held securely to the above described structure by means of chains S, which are fixed at one end to a point a, see Fig.2, of thedrawings, passed thereunder and connected to block and tackle gearing T, which is lashed to the upper part of the structure and communicates with the Winches, whereby said gearing may be maintained taut to keep the structure and barges in proper relative arrangement. As a further means for keeping the barges in place a suitable number of cables U, are extended at an angle downwardly and out wardly from the barges and anchored to the bottom. These act as guy rods to keep the structure in upright position and minimize the lateral sway thereof which may be caused by the surface action of the water.

I do not confine myself to the specific details of construction as herein shown and described, nor to any specific arrangement of tackle, motive power and lifting mechanism, as under the scope of my invention I am entitled to variations adapted to meet different conditions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vessel raiser, the combination, of a plurality of tubular columns each having an extended annular base; with longitudinal and transverse rods connecting said columns, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a vessel raiser, the combination, of a plurality of columns each having an extended annular base; with a plurality of longitudinal rods, and a plurality of removable transverse rods, said rods connecting said columns to each other, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a vessel raiser, the combination, of a plurality of columns each having an extended annular base, and a plurality of longitudinal rods, and a plurality of removable transverse rods, said rods connecting said columns to each other; with a. plurality of barges, motive power, block and tackle gearing, and lifting mechanism, substantially as shown and described.

4:. In a vessel raiser, the combination, of a plurality of columns each comprising a plurality of detachable tubular sections, with couplings telescopically connecting said sections, said couplings respectively having horizontal tubular extensions, and a plurality of longitudinal and lateral bars telescopically engaging said extensions, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a vessel raiser, the combination, of

two rows of columns each comprising a plurality of tubular sections, and couplings detachablyand telescopically connecting saidsections, said couplings having horizontal I:- tubular extensions, and bars telescopically tially as shown and described.

6. In a vessel raiser, the combination of a plurality of sectional vertical columns, each aving an extended annular base, and a pinrality of telescopically connected horizontal' bars, and a plurality of detachable cross bars; with a lurality of barges, and means comprising c ains and block andtackle gearing connectingsaid barges to said columns, and means for operating said gearing, and a cradle comprising a plurality of chains, and lilting mechanism engaging said chains, and motive power, substantially as showxfand described.

7. In a vessel raiser, the combination, of two rows of columns each comprising a plurality of tubular sections, and tubular couplings 'detachably and telescopically connecting said'sections, said couplings having horizontal tubular extensions, and bars telescopically engaging said extensions, with a lurality of cross bars, each of said cross ars having on their ends coupling'ljaws engaging said columns, and means locking saidjaws, whereby said cross bars are detachable, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a vessel raiser, the combinationof'a' plurality of sectional telescopically connected vertical columns, each having a base, and a plurality of tubular couplings connecting the sections of said columns, each of said couplings having horizontal tubular extensions, and a plurality of longitudinally and laterally extended bars telescopically engaging said extensions, and coupling pins removably fastening said bars to said couplings, and a plurality of detachable intermediate lateral bars and means for coupling them to said columns; with a plurality of barges, and chains and block and tackle gearing connecting said barges with said columns, and means for operating said gearing, and a cradle comprising a plurality of chains for engaging under a vessel, and lifting mechanismflocated on said barges for engaging said chains, and cables and anchors anchoring the barges and the-columns to maintain a stable structure, substantially as shown and described.

'In testimony that, I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1' have signed my namem 

